“ANC cannot self-correct, no matter who is at the helm” – Mmusi Maimane

The DA leader isn't buying Ramaphosa's message of change

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA  JULY 25: Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane during an interview on July 25, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The leader of the Democratic Alliance Mmusi Maimane has launched a trademark tirade against the ANC, following Cyril Ramaphosa’s victory in the Presidential race.

Ramaphosa is now the leader of the ANC, although Jacob Zuma still remains President of SA. Cyril had been Zuma’s Deputy for the last three years, and Maimane has used this a stick to beat him with in his scathing assessment of the vote.

Mr Maimane attacked Cyril for only finding his anti-corruption voice recently, and accused him of staying silent whilst JZ was looting the country for its resources.

How Mmusi Maimane reacted to President Cyril Ramaphosa

“The ANC is dead and cannot self-correct, no matter who is at the helm. This is because the party itself is held together only by the glue of patronage and corruption, and Cyril Ramaphosa is just a new face to the same old ANC.”

“Ramaphosa now leads a deeply divided organisation, which has evolved into a self-serving party that has forgotten the poor and the jobless”

“ANC policies that have sought to withdraw South Africa from the International Criminal Court (ICC), kept poor people locked out of the economy, captured the mining sector, chased after an unaffordable Nuclear Deal, and increased unemployment with now over 9 million South Africans without a job.”

“Ramaphosa has stood in Jacob Zuma’s shadow for years, silent in the face of his crimes and the crimes of fellow ANC comrades.”

“Ramaphosa’s political career has been one of silence towards corruption in government. He has shown no willingness or ability to fight corruption and State Capture. While serving as Jacob Zuma’s Deputy President since 2014, he sat silently on the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) while the ANC looted the state and stole money from the people of South Africa.”

Ramaphosa and the divided slate

Maimane also called on Ramaphosa to recall Jacob Zuma for his first act as party President. He also tweeted that the ‘Guptas are still in the leadership’. Whether that’s a dig at CR’s perceived silence, or the nominations of David Mabuza and Ace Magashule to the ANC top six remains to be seen.